Etching press



2, 1967 c. BRAND 3,336,865

ETCHING PRESS Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 a N v EN TOR CHA R1.E5 BRAND AT TORN EA C. BRAND Aug. 22, 1967 ETCHING PRESS 2 Sheets-SheetFiled Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTOR CHARLES BRA/VD A ORNEY United States Patent3,336,865 ETCHING PRESS Charles Brand, 1603 Macombs Road, Bronx, N.Y.10452 Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,905 1 Claim. (Cl. 101-158) Thisinvention relates generally to presses, and is especially concerned witha highly improved etching press and unique features thereof.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an etching presswhich is more accurate and reliable than heretofore possible, whereintable movement is maintained dead straight and table deviation sidewardsis effectively prevented.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anetching press having the advantageous characteristics wherein operatingpressure may be maintained constant throughout use, and may beaccurately reset at a later time of use, if desired.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anetching press of the type described which is durable and reliablethroughout a long, useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing an etching press constructedin accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally alongthe line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one element ofthe assembly of FIGURE 2, apart therefrom.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational View showing another element of the assemblyof FIGURE 2, apart therefrom, and partly in section to illustrateinterior construction.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line5-5 of FIGURE 1, illustrating extreme positions of table movement insolid and dot-anddash outline.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally alongthe'line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, somewhat enlarged for clarity.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 77of FIGURE 5, also enlarged for clarity.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGURE 1 thereof, an etching press is there generally designated 10 andmay include a base or stand 11 including a plurality of rectangularlyarranged generally vertical legs 12, 13, 14 and 15. At their upper ends,the legs may be connected together by a pair of laterally extending,transverse end members 16, and a pair of longitudinally extending sidemembers 17.

Fixedly secured to and upstanding from the side frame members 17 are apair of elongate, parallel spaced supand 19,

port members or plates 18 and 19. That is, the support members or plates18 and 19 are disposed in parallel, generally vertical planes, eachextending longitudinally along and upstanding from a respectivehorizontal frame member 17, being fixedly secured thereto, as by weldingor other suitable means. Further rigidifying the support members orplates 18 and 19 may be a plurality of generally horizontal, laterallyextending tie members or rods 20, 21 and 22, each extending between andhaving its opposite ends fixedly secured to respective support mernbers18 and 19. v

The support members 18 and 19 are: substantially coextensivelongitudinally; and, extending laterally therebetween at a medial regionthereof is a main support roller 25. The support roller 25 is disposedgenerally horizontally, having stub shafts (not shown) projectingaxially from its opposite ends and each journaled in a bearing fixed toa respective support member 18 and 19. The main roller 25 is thuslocated substantially in the space between support members 18'and 19,extending normal thereto and mounted for rotation about a generallyhorizontal axis.

Adjacent to the ends of the support members 18 and 19, inward thereof,are mounted auxiliary rollers 30, 31, 32 and 33. The pair of auxiliaryrollers 30 and 31 are located on one side of the main roller 25, and areshown for purposes of illustration as rotatably carried by respectivesupport members 18 and 19. The auxiliary rollers 30 and 31 are rotatableabout generally horizontal axes, substantially parallel to the axis ofmain roller 25, and may be in axial alignment with each other, ifdesired. Further, a horizontal tangent to the upper surface of eachauxiliary roller 30 and 31 is substantially level with a horizontaltangent to the upper surface of the support roller 25.

Similarly, the auxiliary rollers 32 and 33 are rotatable about generallyhorizontal axes, which may be coincident, and are parallel to the axisof support roller 25, the upper surfaces of auxiliary rollers 32 and 33being level with the upper surface of support roller 25.

A generally flat plate or table 35 rests on the support roller 25 and atleast one adjacent pair of auxiliary rollers 30, 31, 32 and 33. Theplate or table 35 is thus horizontally supported in position between theside supports 18 and extends longitudinally thereof.

As seen in FIGURE 5, the plate or table 35 is of generallyrectangular-outline configuration, having its longi tudinal edges orsides 36 and 37 extending along and spaced therealong are side guiderollers, as at 38, and 39. The side guide rollers 38 and 39 are locatedbetween the support member 18 and a longitudinal rail 34 on theunderside of the table 35 for rolling'engagement with the rail. Moreparticularly, the side guide rollers 38 and 39 are journaled in brackets40 and 41, fixed to the support member 18, respectively adjacent torollers 30 and 31. The guide rollers 38 and 39 are mounted in theirrespective brackets for free rotation about vertical axes.

Similarly, the support member 19 carries, by brackets 42, 49 and 43adjacent to respective auxiliary support rollers 32 and 33, and mainroller 25, side guide rollers 44, 48 and 45, which are rotatable aboutvertical axes and in rolling engagement with the longitudinal rail 46 onthe underside of table 35 adjacent to edge 37.

Located directly over the main support roller 25 is a generallyhorizontally disposed pressure roller 50. The

pressure roller 50 lies in the same vertical plane as the nether supportroller 25 and is mounted at its opposite ends by respective mountingstructures 51 and 52. The mounting structure 51 includes a pair ofparallel spaced upstanding posts or bars 53 and 54 secured rigidly tothe support member 18, as by suitable fastener means, and havingtheirinner or facing sides formed, as by grooves 55 and 56 to definetherebetween a slideway 57. A top member or lintel 58 extends across andbetween the upper ends of the bars 53 and 54, being fixedly securedthereto, as by fasteners 59 and 60, and bridging the slideway 57.

Slidably mounted in the slideway 57 is a bearing block 62 whichrotatably journals one end of the pressure roller 50.

The mounting structure 52 is similar, including a pair of spaced,vertically upstanding posts or bars 63 and 64 suitably fixed rigidly tothe support member 19 and provided on their facing sides with grooves 65and 66 defining therebetween a slideway 67. The upper end of theslideway 67 is bridged by a top member 68 fixedly secured to posts 63and 64, as by fasteners 69 and 70; and, a bearing block 72 is slidablevertically in the slideway 67 and rotatably journals the adjacent end ofpressure roller 50.

Resilient means, such as a coil compression spring 75 is disposedvertically within each guideway 57 and 67, beneath respective bearingblocks 62 and 72. The springs 75 are supported by suitable means attheir lower ends, and have their upper ends respectively in bearingengagement with blocks 62 and 72 to urge the same upward.

Adjustable limit means 76 and 77 are respectively carried by themounting structures 51 and 52 for limiting upward movement of bearingblocks 62 and 72. The limit means 76 and 77 may be identical, so thatonly the limit mechanism 77 will be described in detail, as seen in FIG-URES 2-4. The limit mechanism includes a generally vertical elongate rodor shaft '78 having external screw threads 79 and extending through thelintel or bridging member 68. The upper end of the threaded rod 79 maybe provided with a cross member 80 for facilitating manual turning.Fixed to the lintel 68 and surrounding the rod 78 is a sleeve 81. Thesleeve 81 may be integral with the lintel 68, or fixedly securedthereto, as by fasteners 82, or other suitable means. The sleeve may beinternally threaded, as at 83 in FIG. 4, for mating engagement with thethreads 79. Thus, upon rotation of the cross member or handle 80, therod 78 is caused to move vertically up or down in accordance with thedirection of rotation.

The fixed sleeve 81 is provided on its external surface with markings inthe form of a scale or calibration extending longitudinally of thesleeve and rod 78.

In addition, a collar 85 is circumposed about the rod 78, being fixedrelative thereto, as by setscrew 86. The collar 85 thus rotates with therod 78 and is internally enlarged, as at 87 for loose reception of thesleeve 81. In use, the collar 85 may therefore be circumposed about thesleeve 81 and rotate relative to the latter upon rotation of rod 78. Onthe exterior of collar 85 there is advantageously provided markings, seeFIGURE 2, extending circumferentially about the lower edge of thecollar, which markings may be read in conjunction with the markings ofthe sleeve 81 to indicate with close accuracy the position of rod 78.

As the bearing blocks 62 and 72 are resiliently urged upwardly intoabutment with the lower ends of the rods 78 of respective limitmechanisms 76 and 77, it will now be apparent that the limit mechanismsserve to accurately position elevation of the pressure roll 50, andpermit of accurately resetting the pressure-roll elevation, Wheneverdesired.

In order to limit longitudinally horizontal shifting of the table orplate 35, in the direction of arrows 90 in FIGURE 5, suitable stop meansis provided, which may assume the form of a stop member or block 91fixedly secured on the under side of an overhang or ledge 92 extendinginwardly from the adjacent support member 18. Carried by the table orplate 35 say at opposite ends thereof, may be abutment members orprojections 93 and 94 respectively engageable with opposite sides of thestop members 91 and 92 to limit the table to opposite extreme positionsshown in FIGURE 5.

In order to facilitate operation, a sprocket wheel 96 may be keyed tothe pressure roller 50, outboard of one mounting structure 52. Amanually driven transmission 97 may be mounted on one support member 19,as by support bracket 98, and connected in driving relation withsprocket wheel 96 by a sprocket chain 99. While operation may bemotorized, if desired, a manual operating crank is shown at 100 foreffecting rotation of pressure roller through gearbox 97, chain 99 andsprocket wheel 96.

In use, the pressure roller 50 is rotated either manually, asillustrated, or by power, if desired, and the table 35 caused toreciprocate horizontally between the solid and phantom positions shownin FIGURE 5. At all times, the table is maintained with its center ofgravity over the supporting frame 11, and inboard of the supportingrollers, to eliminate the possibility of tipping or overturning; andfurther, lateral deviation of the table during its movement iseffectively prevented by table engagement with guide rollers 38, 39, 44,50, 46 and 48.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides anetching press which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is welladapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by Wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An etching press comprising a base, a pair of longitudinally extendinglaterally spaced supports fixed to said base, a generally horizontalmain roller extending laterally between intermediate regions of saidsupport and rotatably carried thereby, at least one pair of opposedauxiliary rollers located on each side of said main roller and carriedby said supports for rotation about axes generally parallel to that ofsaid main roller, a generally horizontal pressure roller over said mainroller, mounting means mounting said pressure roller for selectiveadjustment toward and away from said main roller, and a table platesupported in one position on the main roller and on at least one of saidopposed pair of auxiliary rollers for movement thereon beneath saidpressure roller to another position supported on said main roller and onat least the other of said pair of auxiliary rollers, stop means fixedto at least one of said supports, and abutment means carried by saidtable plate at each end thereof for engagement with said stop means tolimit table-plate movement to said positions and to prevent platetipping, and a pair of generally vertical guide rollers on each of saidsupports for rolling engagement with opposite longitudinal sides of saidtable plate upon movement thereof between said positions, to preventlateral plate movement, said pressure-roller mounting means comprising apair of mounting structures one adjacent each end of said pressureroller, each such structure comprising a pair of parallel spaced apartupstanding posts whose facing sides are formed by grooves to definetherebetween a slideway, a lintel extending across and bridging theupper ends of each pair of posts and bridging the respective slideways,journal blocks movable vertically in said slideways and rotatablycarrying opposite ends of said pressure roller, resilient means in eachslideway engaging with and urging said blocks upward, and adjustablelimit means carried by each said lintel and engaging with the respectiveblock to limit upward movement thereof, said limit means each comprisinga threaded member adjustably movable through a sleeve secured to andextending upwardly from its respective lintel for vertical movement inthe slideway above the adjacent block, each sleeve being provided Withfixed calibrations extending longitudinally of the associated threadedmember, a collar circumposed about said threaded member and securedthereto, said collar being internally enlarged for loosely receivingsaid sleeve, circumferential calibrations on the exterior lower edge ofsaid collar, each said collar being rotatable with its respectivethreaded member for reading in conjunction With the longitudinalcalibration on said fixed sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 216,397 6/1879 Hamilton 10l158275,278 4/1883 Shaffer 100l71 X 911,930 2/1909 Anderson 101-158 935,6049/1909 Havens et a1 101-279 1,375,800 4/1921 Popham 101158 2,176,54310/1939 Norton 164-21 3,046,666 7/1962 Mesich 33-164 3,067,676 12/1962Dickerson 101158 X LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner.

